In the author’s own words, the novel is described as, “The life where nothing was ever unexpected. Or inconvenient. Or unusual. The life without color, pain or past.” However, it is the role of psychological, emotional, and humanistic predispositions that rule the narrative. Derived from a blend of fantasy and science fiction, utopian and dystopian worlds are often set in the future in which technology plays a huge role. There is strict control of information, personal freedom, and independent thought; all of it maintained under the guise of safety in conformity. The world inhabited by eleven-year old Jonas has eliminated all pain, prejudice, and fear. Everyone is viewed through a filter of sameness; they are cooperative, polite, and orderly. It is important to note the paradox …show more content…
Jonas, alone cannot be observed or modified in his role as the Receiver; his is to be a solitary role. When the Elders adopted the rule of sameness they eradicated all memories from the general population and assigned one citizen to role of Receiver of Memory whose entire purpose is to keep the collective memory of the past so future mistakes might be avoided. At the ceremony of Twelve, Jonas is assigned this role. On the surface the community values conformity but the only way society can successfully function is to appoint members capable of sheltering the rest of the population from the pain of memories. Jonas is told he displays the traits required to be a Receiver and he has displayed a quality only a receivers have, the capacity to see beyond. Not only to these traits set him apart but in his new role he will forever be set apart from the rest of the community. In the realm without color, the only characters with the ability to see them are Jonas, the Giver, the Giver’s daughter, Rosemary and the new-child,